ESS

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian used his address at the 80th UN General Assembly in New York to insist Iran is not pursuing a nuclear bomb, framing the country's posture as regional security and 'peace through strength'. The message is drawing wide attention as tensions over Iran's nuclear programme and regional stability remain high.

Pope Leo has urged both sides to make concessions in pursuit of peace as the war in Ukraine continues with no end in sight. The appeal adds the Vatican's moral weight to ongoing international debate over how to bring Moscow and Kyiv to the negotiating table, and comes as fighting and diplomatic deadlock persist.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine will make this winter a difficult one for Russia, promising to keep up pressure on Moscow through the cold months. The pledge has drawn wide attention, with observers weighing Ukraine's strikes on Russian energy and infrastructure and the mounting costs of a third full winter of war.

President Trump delivered an address to world leaders gathered at the United Nations summit, laying out his administration's positions before the international audience. The speech drew broad attention as audiences followed his remarks to the UN General Assembly and reacted to the policy messages he directed at global counterparts.

A fresh Ebola emergency in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is prompting calls from the United Nations and aid organisations for urgent humanitarian access to affected areas. Health teams need rapid entry to isolate cases, trace contacts and treat the sick, but access constraints are hampering the response. Observers warn delays could let the outbreak spread and deepen an already severe humanitarian situation.

A week-long report from the front line around Donetsk documents daily life inside Ukraine's fortified defensive belt, one of the war's most contested zones. The footage shows soldiers holding positions under constant shelling and the fortifications that have slowed Russian advances. The report is drawing wide attention as fighting around Donetsk and the wider Donbas region continues to intensify.

The Pope has condemned wars as senseless and called on Russia and Ukraine to sit down at the negotiating table to end their conflict. The appeal was reported by Vatican media, reinforcing his repeated calls for peace since Russia's full-scale invasion began. It comes as the war continues with no clear diplomatic breakthrough in sight.

A White House official says President Trump is open to easing sanctions on Iran if Tehran shows 'concrete progress' on nuclear issues, according to CNN. The comment signals possible flexibility in Washington's stance toward Iran's nuclear program, with observers weighing whether it could reopen a path to negotiations between the two countries.

Bank of England deputy governor Dave Ramsden said there is a case for raising the UK's key interest rate if inflationary pressures build further. His comments come as policymakers weigh how persistent price pressures remain against a weakening economic backdrop, and markets watch closely for signals on the timing of the next move in borrowing costs.

The Philippine Coast Guard has confirmed that the Chinese research vessel Jia Hai Ke 7 entered the Philippine exclusive economic zone. A Filipino aircraft spotted the ship 38 nautical miles off Itbayat and repeatedly challenged it by radio, demanding it leave the area. The incident adds to ongoing tensions between Manila and Beijing over activity in the South China Sea, where China's presence near Philippine waters remains a frequent flashpoint.

US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering easing sanctions on Iran in exchange for concessions on its nuclear programme, according to a report carried by Seeking Alpha. The news is drawing attention as it signals a potential shift in Washington's approach to Tehran's nuclear file, with markets and observers watching for confirmation and details of any proposed deal.

Donald Trump is set to hold a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the Wall Street Journal outlines three key issues business leaders should monitor. Talks between the US and China carry weight for trade policy, tariffs and supply chains, so executives are watching closely for signals on where economic relations between the two powers are headed.

China has expanded overseas travel restrictions covering top AI professionals at private companies, now also applying them to the families of key personnel. The move, reported as an extension of existing exit controls, is being read as part of Beijing's effort to prevent sensitive AI expertise from leaving the country amid tightening US-China technology competition.

The Pope said Europe must return to the path of dialogue rather than military buildup in order to end what he called a 'senseless slaughter', a reference to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The appeal, reported by OSV News, comes amid rising European defence spending and renewed debate over how the conflict should be brought to a close.

China has issued its official readout of the meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump at the White House, with the US readout not yet published. Commentators note the Chinese statement is short but dense, and readers are parsing its wording closely to gauge what was agreed and how each side characterises the talks.

World leaders continued addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York on the sixth day of the annual high-level debate. The sessions, broadcast live, feature speeches from heads of state and government on topics ranging from conflict and security to climate and development, drawing international attention to the diplomatic calendar's most prominent gathering.

The Trump administration has refused to back a United Nations declaration on pandemic preparedness, according to The Hill. The declaration was intended to strengthen international coordination against future disease outbreaks. The decision puts Washington at odds with other UN member states that supported the text and is likely to fuel debate over US engagement with global health institutions.

Democrats say they will investigate the Trump family's lucrative business dealings if they win control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections, according to a Reuters report. The prospect of congressional oversight into the former president's finances is drawing attention as election campaigns intensify.

Donald Trump has signalled that the United States would be prepared to ease sanctions on Iran if Tehran takes concrete steps toward nuclear concessions. The statement points to a potential opening in stalled negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme, though no specific concessions or timeline were outlined.

The Acting Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process delivered remarks at the UN Security Council presenting the Secretary-General's report on the implementation of Resolution 2334. The resolution concerns Israeli settlement activity in occupied Palestinian territory. The briefing covers the latest developments and UN assessments on the ground, renewing attention to the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is addressing a live press conference at the party's Indira Bhawan headquarters in New Delhi. Large audiences are following the event in real time as Gandhi speaks to reporters, with the briefing drawing significant public attention and reaction online.

President Trump is open to offering Iran sanctions relief in exchange for 'concrete progress' on nuclear issues, according to a White House official. The signal suggests potential flexibility in Washington's approach to diplomacy with Tehran, and observers are watching for what specific steps Iran might need to take for any easing of sanctions to materialise.

Iran is being pressed to make concessions on its nuclear program as a condition for reviving stalled peace talks with the United States. The reported pressure suggests Washington and its allies want concrete movement on uranium enrichment and inspections before diplomacy can resume. The development keeps attention on whether Tehran will accept terms that could ease tensions or risk further confrontation.

Ireland's Data Protection Commission has fined Google €403 million following an inquiry into how the company processes users' location data. The regulator concluded that Google's handling of location information breached EU data protection rules, with concerns centring on how users were informed and asked to consent. It is one of the largest privacy fines issued under the GDPR to date.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed frustration over the situation in Sudan, reportedly suggesting a ceasefire was rejected, while a Sudanese official denies that claim. The dispute highlights growing tension over international efforts to end Sudan's civil war, which has caused one of the world's worst humanitarian crises and displaced millions since fighting began in 2023.

Russia has carried out a successful test of its Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, a heavy strategic weapon capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads. Defence analysts are examining what the test signals about Moscow's nuclear posture, the modernisation of its strategic forces, and the consequences for arms control and international security at a time of heightened East-West tensions.

Reports say Pakistan has carried out strikes inside Afghanistan, with Türkiye joining Pakistan in what is being described as a strong joint message. The cross-border action and the show of solidarity between Islamabad and Ankara are drawing attention across the region, with audiences watching closely for how Kabul and the wider region respond to the escalation.